A French guy in Budapest

Published May 4, 2016

I’ve been looking forward to visiting Budapest for ages, as I’ve have always heard good things about the city. One of the standard Eastern European destinations for embarrassing English stag do’s, it has a reputation both as a party place and an architectural wonder.

View from the top of Gellért Hill

I can confirm both claims are accurate. The night life alone is worth the trip, as the Hungarian capital is scattered with quirky pubs and bars worth visiting and reminiscent of Shoreditch (but with cheaper beer!). I would particularly recommend going to a spa party: essentially, a night club set up in an open-air, warm swimming pool. Nothing short of a genius concept.

The landscape is amazing, with plenty of wonderful views both from the tops of the hilly Buda district and the flat of Pest, on the opposite side of the Danube. Every road and riverside is embellished with statues, bridges and churches of all styles and sizes, and other random art forms to appreciate.

The Hungarian Parliament

The food, drinks and flat rentals are reasonably priced, even if you stay centrally. Having said that, it can be hard to keep track of how much you spend in forint (local currency), euro (also accepted) and more crucially, what this all ultimately means for your precious UK bank balance.

Also be mindful of cab prices, which are not much cheaper than in England and can add up, although the city is small enough to walk around. Make sure you check out the food markets, too. Anyway, here are a few things I’d recommend doing during your time in Budapest:

Visit Buda Castle (mind the uphill walk)

Go on a boat tour around Margaret Island, and get off there to visit it.

Visit Dohány Street Synagogue, the second largest in the world (mind the Jewish security hitmen at the entrance door)

go up the Gellért Hill to see all the nice statues and the incredible view of the city. Try and go late afternoon so it’s still light on the way up, and you can appreciate the sun set and the city lighting up by the time you reach the top 🙂

Check out the stunning parliament building

Take a walk across Chain Bridge

check out Heroes’ Square and get your picture taken with the big Budapest sign